History Trivia / DragonQuest

* MarketBasedTitle: The series was called "Dragon Warrior" when released outside of Japan until ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' came out in 2006. A pen-and-paper game called ''[=DragonQuest=]'' already existed when the first ''Dragon Quest'' video game was released and Nintendo of America wanted to avoid any potential legal issues.

* MarketBasedTitle: The series was called "Dragon Warrior" when released outside of Japan until ''VideoGame/DragonWarriorVIII'' came out in 2006. A pen-and-paper game called ''[=DragonQuest=]'' already existed when the first ''Dragon Quest'' video game was released and Nintendo of America wanted to avoid any potential legal issues.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: A lot of the older ''Dragon Quest'' games, particularly the original trilogy, have been hit rather hard with this. About the only things the [[NoExportForYou US audience]] gets in that regards are mobile ports of the games, with any and all re-releases of the original games being Japan exclusives. As the NES carts after ''DW1'' had rather conservative print runs (with ''4'' being in the sub-100,000 range) this has made them fairly pricey collector's items.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: While Square-Enix seems have given up on the series in the West, the same cannot be said for Nintendo, who enthusiastically publishes and promotes many of the games outside of Japan when SE refuses to, in spite of their niche levels of sales.

* KeepCirculatingTheTapes: A lot of the older ''Dragon Quest'' games, particularly the original trilogy, have been hit rather hard with this. About the only things the [[NoExportForYou US audience]] gets in that regards are mobile ports of the games, with any and all re-releases of the original games being Japan exclusives.

** As an example, ''III'' came out in early 1988 in Japan - roughly the same time as, say, ''VideoGame/UltimaV'' or ''[[VideoGame/GoldBox D&D: Pool of Radiance]]'', who both make for reasonably good comparative partners in terms of scope and technology. The English version came out in ''mid-1991'' - over a year after ''VideoGame/UltimaVI'' '''and''' ''VideoGame/WorldsOfUltimaTheSavageEmpire'', after basically ''the entire Gold Box series'' had come out, and barely months before ''VideoGame/UltimaVII'' would land with its own kind of thunderbolt and ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' would introduce a much different way of playing an RPG. Never mind the fact that Square, at the time, got wise, and bumped ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' up to "II" and released it as soon as they could. ''Dragon Quest'' never contributed to the RPG conversation in America because it arrived far too late to the party to do so.

** While the release of ''XI'' was met with great happiness from the fanbase, the news that the 3DS version will NOT be localized caused a great deal of consternation. The 3DS version has not only a completely different art style but some exclusive content as well. This also puts in doubt if the 3DS ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' will be released in the future. This is especially sad because every main series game would otherwise be playable on a single 3DS system, missing those 4 games and ''X''. On the plus side, at least some of the 3DS content is being incorporated into the Switch version which ''is'' being localized.
** For whatever reason, ''VII'' is the only game from 1-8 that is not available on mobile devices outside of Japan. The likely culprit is some kind of exclusivity contract between Nintendo and Squareenix, as Nintendo took on publishing duties for the 3DS remake of ''VII''.

** Then there are the ''Arcade'' games that Square-Enix released under a partnership with Marvelous AQL. So far ''Monster Battle Scanner'' is available outside of Japan at certain arcades, notably Aeon Molly Fantasy outlets. Whether they'd become available in more countries however remains to be seen - which is kinda sad since the English localization Was rather well done and apparently they got Side UK as their talent agency.

* AdoredByTheNetwork: While Square-Enix seems the have given up on the series in the West, the same cannot be said for Nintendo, who enthusiastically publish and promote many of the games outside of Japan when SE refuses to, in spite of their niche levels of sales.
* FountainOfExpies: The original Dragonlord from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI''. Both Hargon of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'' and Zoma of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' are blue-skinned villains with black headgear... just like the Dragonlord.

* NetworkToTheRescue: As detailed below, Dragon Quest has had a history of shaky publishing in the West. After the DS Remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' flopped in sales, Square was reluctant to release anymore of the titles in the West. Nintendo ended up stepping in to distribute. ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX IX]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI VI]]'', the former doing decently well but the latter doing relatively poorly. Years later, the 3DS remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVII VII]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII VIII]]'' come out and Square once again refused to publish the game outside of Japan. Nintendo once more stepped in to publish both games, even localizing the games themselves.

* NetworkToTheRescue: As detailed below, Dragon Quest has had a history of shaky publishing in the West. After the DS Remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' flopped in sales, Square was reluctant to release anymore of the titles in the West. Nintendo ended up stepping in to distribute. ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX IX]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI VI]]'', with again the two games underwhelming. Years later, the 3DS remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVII VII]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII VIII]]'' come out and Square once again refused to publish the game outside of Japan. Nintendo once more stepped in to publish both games, even localizing the games themselves.

** In mid 2019, to coincide with the release of ''Dragon Quest XI S'' on the Switch, the ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' that Japan enjoyed on the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 PS4]] or 3DS (they even got ''I'' for free up completing ''XI'') are finally, ''finally'' coming the Switch. This is the first time the original trilogy will be available for dedicated game systems since the GBC colors releases in 2001.

** In mid 2019, to coincide with the release of ''Dragon Quest XI S'' on the Switch, the ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' that Japan enjoyed on the [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation4]] or 3DS (they even got ''I'' for free up completing ''XI'') are finally, ''finally'' coming the Switch. This is the first time the original trilogy will be available for dedicated game systems since the GBC colors releases in 2001.

** In mid 2019, to coincide with the release of ''Dragon Quest XI S'' on the Switch, the ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' that Japan enjoyed on the PS4 or 3DS (they even got ''I'' for free up completing ''XI'') are finally, ''finally'' coming the Switch. This is the first time the original trilogy will be available for dedicated game systems since the GBC colors releases in 2001.

** In mid 2019, to coincide with the release of ''Dragon Quest XI S'' on the Switch, the ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' that Japan enjoyed (they even got I for free up completing ''XI'') are finally, ''finally'' coming the Switch. This is the first time the original trilogy will be available for dedicated game systems since the GBC colors releases in 2001.

** Nintendo not only published ''XI S'' on the switch, but bankrolled some of the new features including the previously 3DS-exclusive content as well as new story content, orchestral music, and Japanese voice acting in order to jsutify anybody double-dipping.

** In modern times, the VII and VIII remakes on the 3DS took ''3 years'' to release, thanks only to the publishing efforts of Nintendo.
** In mid 2019, to coincide with the release of ''Dragon Quest XI S'' on the Switch, the ports of ''I'', ''II'', and ''III'' that Japan enjoyed (they even got I for free up completing ''XI'') are finally, ''finally''coming the Switch. This is the first time the original trilogy will be available for dedicated game systems since the GBC colors releases in 2001.

* NetworkToTheRescue: As detailed below, Dragon Quest has had a history of shaky publishing in the West. After the DS Remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' flopped in sales, Square was reluctant to release anymore of the titles in the West. Nintendo ended up stepping in to distribute ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX IX]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI VI]]'', with again the two games underwhelming. Years later, the 3DS remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVII VII]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII VIII]]'' come out and Square once again refused to publish the game outside of Japan. Nintendo once more stepped in to publish both games, even localizing the games themselves.

** Then there are the ''Arcade'' games, numbering three, that Square-Enix released under a partnership with Marvelous AQL. So far the third game, ''Scan Battlers'', is available outside of Japan at certain arcades, notably Aeon Molly Fantasy outlets. Whether they'd become available in more countries however remains to be seen - which is kinda sad since the English localization Was rather well done and apparently they got Side UK as their talent agency.

** Then there are the ''Arcade'' games, numbering three, that Square-Enix released under a partnership with Marvelous AQL. So far the third game, ''Scan Battlers'', is available outside of Japan at certain arcades, notably Aeon Molly Fantasy outlets. Whether they'd become available in more countries however remains to be seen - which is kinda sad since the English dubbing was quite good and apparently they got Side.UK as their talent agency.

** Then there are the ''Arcade'' games, numbering three, that Square-Enix, on a partnership with Creator/{{Marvellous}}, released.

** In modern times, the VII and VIII remakes on the 3DS took ''3 years'' to release, thanks only to the publishing efforts of Nintendo. And ''XI'' on the switch is allegedly coming, but will arrive 'much later'. But in the case of ''XI'', at least the Switch port is taking a while to release in Japan as well, and not just a case of Squareenix not wanting to bother, like with ''VII'' and ''VIII''.

** While the release of ''XI'' was met with great happiness from the fanbase, the news that the 3DS version will NOT be localized caused a great deal of consternation. The 3DS version has not only a completely different art style but some exclusive content as well. This also puts in doubt if the 3DS ports of I, II, and III will be released in the future. This is especially sad because every main series game would otherwise be playable on a single 3DS system, missing those 4 games and ''X''. Even worse, all the work that could have gone into a 3DS localization is being used for a PC port instead.

** Before ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'', none of the Dragon Quest games were released in Europe, except Dragon Quest Monsters. The Erdrick trilogy took nearly three decades from its original release year before the region finally saw a release, but on smartphones.

** For whatever reason, ''VII'' is the only game from 1-8 that is not available on mobile devices outside of Japan. The likely culprit is some kind of exclusivity contract between Nintendo and Squareenix, as Nintendo took on publishing duties for the 3DS remake of VII.

* TheWikiRule: The [[https://dragon-quest.org/wiki/Main_Page Dragon Quest Wiki]] and Gamepedia [[https://dragonquest.gamepedia.com/Dragon_Quest_Wiki Dragon Quest Wiki]], as well as Wikia [[http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Quest_Wiki Dragon Quest Wiki]].

* TheWikiRule: The [[https://dragon-quest.org/wiki/Main_Page Dragon Quest Wiki]] and Wikia [[http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Quest_Wiki Dragon Quest Wiki]].

* NetworkToTheRescue: As detailed below, Dragon Quest has had a history of shaky publishing in the West. After the DS Remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIV IV]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestV V]]'' flopped in sales, Square was reluctant to release anymore of the titles in the West. Nintendo ended up stepping in to distribute ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestIX IX]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVI VI]]'', with again the two games underwhelming. Years later, the 3DS remakes for ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVII]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII VIII]]'' come out and Square once again refused to publish the game outside of Japan. Nintendo once more stepped in to publish both games, even localizing the games themselves.